A Bavarian Fairytale New Year 2019/20

Thank you for choosing to travel with Albatross Tours. It’s not long now until you leave for your holiday to Europe!

You will just love Europe throughout the festive season. You will be exhilarated by the soaring mountains, ancient churches and castles, and visits to beautiful European cities and villages. Then there are the fun experiences, riding on a snow bound horse drawn carriage, or maybe making snow angels, and savouring the sentimental moments with a group of new-found friends. Fond memories, like these, really inspire me to design our festive tours our special way – the ‘Albatross Way’.

Nearly 25 years ago we were the first to offer Festive European tours. We were the original, and I’m incredibly proud that we are still the best!

Euan Landsborough, Managing Director & Tour DesignerAlbatross Tours

Time To Get Excited

In this bookletIn this booklet you will find your tour itinerary, hotel details, map plus other important information you will need to know before departing.

Enclosed in your documentation pack• Joining instructions

• Tour vouchers

• Luggage tags - Your Albatross Tours luggage tags will be used by your Tour Manager to identify your luggage whilst on tour. Please attach them to your luggage on the first day prior to boarding your coach.

Other necessary documents you will need to bring with you• Valid Passport - Please ensure your passport is valid for at least six

months beyond the return date of your trip. Currently, Australian, New Zealand and UK passport holders do not require any visas on any of our European tours.

• Travel Insurance Details - It is a condition of travel on our tours, that you are covered by adequate International Travel Insurance. Please make sure you bring your insurance details with you.

Your Documentation

Your ItineraryDAY 1 LuzernThis ‘Bavarian Fairytale New Year’ tour has been specially designed to start in Luzern as your Christmas Tour ends. Dinner tonight is included in your hotel but first, enjoy a welcome drink. Meals: D

DAY 2Lindau on Lake Constanceand the Bavarian Alps Crossing Switzerland, we enter Germany and make a stop in Lindau on Lake Bodensee (Constance). This beautifully preserved island town is complete with medieval lighthousesand cobblestoned streets.

Later this afternoon we continue to the tiny village of Hohenschwangau where we stay for the next five

nights. What a setting! On one hill overlooking the village you have the neo-Gothic Castle of Hohenschwangau and onthe other side above the village is a wooded mountain spur andNeuschwanstein - the Fairytale Castle of ‘Mad’ King Ludwig.To complete the picture there’s a beautiful lake not far from the hotel doorstep. Dinner is included each evening in your charming hotel. Meals: B,D

DAY 3Neuschwanstein andHohenschwangau Castle visitsWhat better way to start the day than a visit to the ‘fairytale’ Neuschwanstein Castle! After a pleasurable walk uphill you will

enjoy a guided tour inside the King’s apartments, staterooms, halls and throne room all reminiscent of a Wagner operatic saga.

This afternoon we will also visit the neo-Gothic Hohenschwangau Castle. Rich in history, you will find the interior typical of the Castles of the Knights of the Middle Ages, with its ‘Hall of Heroes’, paintings and suits of armour. Meals: B,D

DAY 4New Year’s Eve – ‘My Time’ in Füssen and lunch on Lake HopfenseeYour morning is at leisure in delightful Füssen. Stretches of the original Roman defensive walls are still

in place, and the town’s historic character is particularly evident along the cobblestoned Reichenstrasse. High above, the old castle of thePrince-Bishops of Augsburg dominates the town.

Later, we visit the pretty town of Hopfen, on Lake Hopfensee, where we have included lunch in a restaurant with wonderful views over the lake to the snow-capped mountains.

This evening we enjoy a 5 course dinner in our hotel and later, step outside to witness the grand firework display in the night sky above majestic Hohenschwangau Castle. What an experience! Meals: B,L,D

DAY 5New Year’s Day – ride in ahorse drawn carriage and onthe Tegelberg cable carAfter a leisurely start we will take a cable car ride up to Tegelberg to take in the breathtaking views down onto the majestic Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles far below. Time to take those ‘perfect’ photos. Later sit back and relax on a horse drawn carriage ride through the localcountryside. Meals: B,D

Your Itinerary

DAY 6Wieskirche, Oberammergau andLinderhof PalaceOur first stop this morning is at the richly decorated Wieskirche (Church in the Meadows) with its incrediblepainted ceilings. Lunchtime is in the pretty ‘Passion Play’ village of Oberammergau, where we have included a guided tour through the amazing Passion Play Theatre.

Later, we will stop at Kloster Ettal church which dates back over

700 years and is one of the finest examples of Rococo architecture in existence. Our last stop today will be Linderhof, an extravagant French Rococo Palace – yet another of King Ludwig’s amazing creations. Our farewell dinner tonight is in our hotel. Meals: B,D

DAY 7To MunichThis morning your tour comes to an end with a transfer to Munich, to arrive mid morning. We will make stops at the central railway station, Maritim Hotel and Munich airport.We recommend that you book flights or trains that depart Munich after 2pm today. Meals: B

Your Luzern Hotel Ameron Hotel Flora LucerneSeidenhofstrasse 5, 6002 Luzern, SwitzerlandPhone: +41 41 227 6666 Email: flora@ameronhotels.com

Your Bavarian Alps HotelAmeron Neuschwanstein Alpsee Resort & SpaAlpseestraße 21, 87645 Schwangau, GermanyPhone: +49 8 3627 0300Email: info@ameron-neuschwanstein.de

Your Hotels*

*Note: Your tour itinerary and hotels may be subject to change.

Important Information

Your Tour Manager is: Katia Provencher Katia’s mobile number is: +49 176 2334 1528

Katia is a French-Canadian from Montreal but her heart belongs to Europe where she has lived most of her adult life. Katia thoroughly enjoys sharing her passion for touring and we are sure you will love her company, and extensive knowledge, on tour.

Important InformationSpecial dietsAll the hotels and restaurants, along with your Tour Manager, will have been notified of any special dietary needs you advised to us on your traveller information form. Nevertheless, please do check with your Tour Manager to ensure he/she is aware of them. Whilst every effort will be made toaccommodate your special dietary requirements, we cannot guarantee they will always be available.

Do you have a disibility or medical condition we should know aboutIf you have advised us of a disability or medical condition on your traveller information form, we will have passed these details on to your Tour Manager. We recommend that you also raise the matter confidentially with your Tour Manager at the beginning of the tour.

Luggage and PorterageHotel porterage for one suitcase per person is included at each stay during your group touring programme. It is not included on the first or last days of your tour when arriving or departing your hotel independently. Please liaise with your Tour Manager and Driver regarding porterage for additional luggage.

Your Tour Manager

How much money do I need to budget for optional meals and excursions?Very little! Unlike other tour companies we don’t sell extra ‘optional’ tours once you arrive. All the excursions, activities and meals we outline in the itinerary are already included. Most dinners, even special regional restaurant dining, are already included. To help matters we also include a glass of wine, beer or soft drink with dinner and later, tea or coffee.

How much should I budget for tips on tour?Nothing! We have already taken care of that for you. At Albatross Tours we understand that knowing when to tip, who to tip, and how much to tip can make you uncomfortable. That’s why we have included all tips whilst you are ‘on tour’ including the end of tour tips for your Tour Manager and Driver. That makes life easier!

What type of clothing do you recommend on your Festive Tours?The weather can get cold, but you will be comfortable when travelling as your first class coach is fitted with heaters and double glazed windows. Once you arrive at your hotel you will be greeted with a warm and comfortable atmosphere. We recommend sturdy waterproof shoes, thick socks, a woollen beanie, thermal underclothes, gloves and sunglasses. Further suggestions can be found in the pre-departure information on our website www.albatrosstours.com ‘My Tour’ section. Look for ‘Handy hints on what to pack and bring’.

Please note there is a smart attire dress code for the New Year’s Eve Dinner.

Will I have free time while touring?Yes, absolutely! We refer to this as ‘My Time’. And since we do not sell ANY optional excursions your free time remains free! We believe the perfect touring holiday includes a balanced mix of included activities as well as free time to enjoy your surroundings. Let’s face it, part of the joy of a destination is to relax and enjoy a leisurely lunch or wander through the streets and experience the local culture.

Important Information Frequently Asked Questions

• Daily tour itinerary

• Helpful holiday tips

• Destination ideas

• Interactive maps

• Weather updates

• Currency converter

The Albatross Tours App

Albatross Tours App features

Remember to download the Albatross Tours App before you leave

Designed to enhance your travelling experience, the Albatross Tours App features your daily tour itinerary, travel maps, weather updates plus ‘My Time’ suggestions. Please download your App before you leave home.

Your personalised Albatross Tours App will be available 4 weeks prior to your tour departure. To download the Albatross Tours App simply go to the App Store (Apple) or Google Play Store (Android) and search for ‘Albatross Tours’.

Your Albatross Tours App login can be found in your Albatross travel documentation.

If you have any questions regarding your Albatross Tours documentation, please contact our office by email info@albatrosstours.com or telephone:

Australia: 1300 135 015New Zealand: 0800 446 232

On behalf of the team at Albatross Tours, we wish you a wonderful European holiday!

Enter your favourite photos from your Albatross Festive tour by 26th January 2020 for your chance to WIN one of the following:

First prize: $500 Visa gift cardRunner-up prize: $250 Visa gift card

We look forward to seeing your photos of European landmarks, regions, villages and memories from your Albatross tour.

To enter simply upload your photos via www.albatrosstours.com.au/festive-europe-comp

FESTIVE EUROPEPHOTO COMPETITION